Primary, Relief Society leaders ‘mourn with those that mourn’ months after Lesotho bus accident

Brokenhearted at the news of a multivehicle accident that claimed the lives of six young women and four local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maputsoe, Lesotho, in late June, two general officers of the church traveled from Salt Lake City to Lesotho Sept. 4-5 to minister to those affected.

During their visit, the two general officers — Primary General President Susan H. Porter and Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the church’s Relief Society general presidency — met with survivors, friends and family members to express their condolences, show their support and share messages of hope, including a message from church President Russell M. Nelson.

A message from the prophet

“In that terrible accident in June, your family members and friends, who were many of our choicest church members in Lesotho, perished on their way to a Young Women’s activity,” said President Nelson in a written message to those affected. “I express my love to each of you, dear family members and friends. Our prayers continue to be with you and your loved ones.”

President Porter read and distributed cards with this and a second message printed to those grieving in Lesotho. The second message was written by the church’s Relief Society, Young Women and Primary general presidencies. It stated:

“Our hearts are also full of love for you! We mourn with you at the loss of loved ones and pray for your healing. We bear our witness that through the atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, your loved ones live! We await that day of joy when we will be reunited with all those we love.”

A witness of increased faith

Visiting a couple of the surviving leaders still recovering from the accident, President Porter and Sister Dennis were able to witness with them the increased faith the experience has built in them and the young women they serve.

For instance, Mapule Takane — a surviving young women leader who is now recovering at her parents’ home after being two months in the hospital — told President Porter and Sister Dennis she used to “struggle with (her young women) not reading their scriptures.”

“Now they are telling me that they read their scriptures,” she said. “I think that was like the special thing that happened. It was like their faith increased, like 10 times, because of that experience.”

President Porter told Takane: “Sometimes that’s when we really see God’s hand in our lives, is when hard things happen.

“Other times, we’re not really paying attention to God in our lives. Things are going well. But when we have hard things, we’re just praying, seeking help and we see miracles.”

During the two-day visit, President Porter also visited surviving young women leader Alphoncina Rakuoane, who is hopeful of returning home from the hospital soon. And both President Porter and Sister Dennis spent some time visiting the three young children — Keketo (8), Papi (4) and Kabelo (3) — which the late Maputsoe Branch President Moeti Molateli and his wife, Mokhethi, left behind when they were killed in the accident.

“It’s hard, isn’t it?” President Porter told one of the young children.

He nodded in reply, and she continued: “They are watching over you.”

According to a Saturday press release, the three young children are now being cared for by President Molateli’s brother and his wife. President Porter and Sister Dennis expressed thanks for their willingness to take the children in.

A ‘light’ to others

Gathered with young women, their families and friends at the Maputsoe Branch meetinghouse, Sister Dennis told the young women that this difficult experience would strengthen their compassion for others who are enduring hardship.

“You girls will be able to help others in your life,” she said. “When others are going through similar things, you will understand what they feel.”

In this way, she added, they will be enabled to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

“That is what Jesus Christ did for us through his atonement,” she said, turning to the Book of Mormon to teach that Jesus suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind” that his “bowels may be filled with mercy.”

She then said, “You will be a light (for others) like Christ is for us.

“You will be a light for them because you can understand what they’re going through.”

Sister Dennis then told those present that God knows their pain and that, because of Jesus Christ, “there is always hope.”

“You will see your loved ones again,” she taught. “Because of Jesus Christ, they will be resurrected. … There will be no more death, there will be no more crying, there will be no more tears because of our Savior Jesus Christ.”

See links to more coverage and images of the accident, memorial services below